New data shows a rise in visitors to British Columbia (B.C.), despite a significant decline in the number of Mexican visitors.
In November 2023, 267,448 non-Canadian visitors entered B.C., marking a 3.5% increase compared to the same month in 2022, according to Destination British Columbia. However, this growth is modest compared to the national trend. Across Canada, there were 1,134,550 international visitors in November, an 11.9% increase from the previous year.
While B.C. saw an overall increase in visitors, travel from Mexico dropped dramatically. Only 8,191 Mexican citizens entered Canada through B.C. in November, a 21.2% decrease from the same month in 2023.
In November 2022, Mexico had been a fast-growing source of visitors for B.C., with a 26.5% increase over the previous year. The steep decline is largely attributed to Canada’s reinstatement of visa requirements for Mexican citizens, effective February 29, 2024.
This policy change came as a surprise to many, especially after Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller announced on February 28 that Mexicans would need visas to enter Canada starting the following day. The decision was made in response to rising asylum claims, though it disappointed both Mexican travelers and tourism operators in B.C.
Quebec Premier François Legault had been advocating for the return of visa requirements, which further added to the frustration of many affected travelers.
